Medicare Program; FY 2025 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update, Hospice Conditions of Participation Updates, and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements
medicare · Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services · Rule · Published 2024-08-06 · Effective 2024-10-01 · 89 FR 64202
Document
Document number
2024-16910
Federal Register citation
89 FR 64202
CFR reference
42 CFR 418
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
medicare
Sub-agency
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Publication date
2024-08-06
Effective date
2024-10-01
HHS docket
CMS-1810-F
Abstract
This final rule updates the hospice wage index, payment rates, and aggregate cap amount for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. This rule also adopts the most recent Office of Management and Budget statistical area delineations, which will impact the hospice wage index. This rule clarifies current policy related to the "election statement" and the "notice of election", as well as adds clarifying language regarding hospice certification and includes a technical regulation text change to the Conditions of Participation (CoPs). This rule finalizes changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program. Finally, this rule summarizes comments received regarding potential implementation of a separate payment mechanism to account for high intensity palliative care services.